Growing up an involved child, many of my first memories were sitting in the back of my dad’s car listening to his diverse playlists. Being exposed to this at a very early age meant I was destined for a similar fate, being a lover of all types of music. Although summer has come and gone, today I am reminiscing on “yacht rock.” “Yacht rock” can be listened to with or without a yacht, but always has to incorporate good vibes. This term was coined recently and classifies songs in this category as beachy, upbeat, and with rock influences. Some would call this era the Golden Age of music, the time span of the 1960s-80s. Songs born out of this age were riddled with heavy production, iconic bands, and off-stage drama (which added to the music). I hope the list of these iconic songs adds to your music knowledge and your playlists.
“take it easy” By eagles
Originally written by Jackson Browne, this song could have looked a lot different if the Eagles did not finally piece it together. The finishing touches they added on boosted its memorability, such as the specific lines about road tripping, “…Standing on the corner in Winslow, Arizona,” and “It’s a girl, my Lord, in a flatbed Ford/Slowin’ down to take a look at me.” These added lyrics made it catchy, and now there is even an attraction in Winslow, Arizona, dedicated to this song! With its true 70s production and upbeat elements, this song is perfect for a nice day at the beach or a long drive. Coming back into this new semester, I find myself listening to this song at least once a day. Its rock production and guitar riffs make it a fun listen, and the lyrics only supplement. In true “yacht rock” fashion, this song’s main premise is to honestly relax. Or as Don Henley puts it, “Don’t let the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy.”
“dirty work” BY steely dan
Born in 1972, this hit song details an affair between a man and a married woman. Written by Donald Fagan and Walter Becker, the song’s controversial topic was even too much for Fagan and Becker, who later distanced themselves from the project. Although it still has its rock influences, this song has more of a jazz vibe to it. The song starts off slower, but eventually picks up at the chorus, where the vocals and guitar come together. The song has a rather relaxed sound compared to its less straight-edged lyrics, such as, “When you need a bit of lovin’/’Cause your man is out of town.” Perfect for laying out in the hot sun or simply just listening, “Dirty Work” is an entertaining beat.
“ventura highway” By america
Another song from 1972 makes this list, and this one happens to be a song about driving down a fictional road called “Ventura Highway.” This song, written by Dewey Bunnell, is a love letter to California and details his own experiences moving there from the Midwest. “Ventura Highway” is an upbeat song with an infectious beat and many ad libs (which make it so fun to sing along). Along with the ad libs are the interesting lyrics, which give the song its originality, such as “…alligator lizards in the air.” “Getting hit by purple rain” is another iconic lyric that made some question if Prince had a role in the production of the song. All in all, because of their relaxed nature, songs about road tripping seem to be a big theme when it comes to “yacht rock.”
“one of these nights” By eagles
“One of These Nights” is the title track of the band’s first number one album. Different from most of the other songs from the Eagles, this song features heavy rock production. In the creation of this song, band members wanted to move away from their country roots and lean more into traditional rock influences in this era. In this beat about pining after a woman, the band ties the song together as a whole through its vocals, lyrics, and production. Not to mention the song stands out because of its sensational guitar riff in the latter half. Great for active or inactive listening with or without the yacht, the grit of the song makes it a truly entertaining listen.
“dancing in the dark” By bruce springsteen
When many people imagine summer, they dream about the barbecues on a hot day with upbeat music on in the background. When I imagine summer, I imagine this exact scenario with Bruce Springsteen playing in the background. For many reasons Bruce Springsteen is thought about during a hot summer day and this song is one of them. “Dancing in the Dark” was created in the 1980s and was a result of Springsteen’s pent-up aggression towards his own situation and the broader societal situation at the time. Lyrics such as “I’ll shake this world off my shoulders,” added to the relatability of the song and contributed to its popularity. Not only do its angry vocals add to the song, but so does the production. Springsteen chose a rock production to increase this project and backing synths to tie the song together as a whole. “Dancing in the Dark” is highly regarded as one of the most famous songs of all time, so it was hard to believe that Springsteen wrote this song in only one sitting.
Rock out with yacht rock
From Don Henley to Bruce Springsteen, these artists and songs are famous for a reason, and I hope that you can understand these reasons after listening. In my own experience, I find that having songs to fit the exact situation you’re in only enhances the situation. Although “yacht rock” is typically listened to during the summer months, that does not always have to be the case, and I hope these songs will expand your music taste or even introduce you to a few new songs.